HBO Renews TREME for Fourth and Final Season “Between Four and Six Hours of Programming”

Treme returns to HBO tonight for its third season premiere. It was unclear if this was going to be the final season. HBO has already supported creator David Simon through two low-rated seasons that received positive reviews but not critical acclaim. How long can a show like that stay on the air? Thankfully, HBO will give Simon the opportunity to wrap up the series as he sees fit with a fourth season.

Well, half a fourth season. Simon is looking at “between four and six hours of programming” to end the narrative. Hit the jump for details.

“We are going to be back for a season 3.5. HBO, upon viewing the 10 (season-three episodes) that we gave them and what we’ve done, they want to see the end of the story. They fought very hard to give us half a loaf. We’re going to take it and run.”

The first three seasons are 10, 11, and 10 episodes, respectively. So what exactly is half a loaf? Hitfix reached out to Simon to clarify:

“HBO has offered us a lump sum to budget a conclusion toTremeand we are trying to figure out how to stretch that amount in the best possible way. Right now, we are tentatively looking at anywhere between four and six hours of programming, depending on a variety of things. It’s half a loaf, but it represents a sincere effort by Mike Lombardo and Richard Plepler to end the narrative properly. We’ll do the best we can with the story arcs and try to conclude Tremein a resonant way.”

I enjoy the shaggy charm of Treme. I am happy to have a bit more time to spend with these characters, especially since Simon gets to complete their arcs on his schedule.